How to Watch Evangelion in Order

Evangelion is one of the most influential and revered anime series ever created, with a fan base that continues to grow with each passing year. If you’re someone looking to jump in for the very first time, things can become rather daunting quickly, especially once you start looking at all of the titles.

With an original series, a reboot, and a recap, there’s plenty to discover in the iconic sci-fi anime. To help you get started, I put together my recommended watch order for the full franchise. Prepare to get in the robot and experience the world of Evangelion.

At a Glance: How to Watch Evangelion in Order

Neon Genesis Evangelion (series)
The End of Evangelion
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance
Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo
Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time

If you have all of Eva lined out in front of you, here’s a quick look at our recommended watch order. For more information on the series and its development, scroll on.

What Is Evangelion?

Neon Genesis Evangelion first began as a manga series in December 1994. The anime premiered in October 1995 and aired on TV until March 1996. The series was both created and written by Hideaki Anno, with production occurring at Studio Gainax. Following the TV anime, Evangelion became incredibly popular, resulting in the development of The End of Evangelion to provide an alternate ending to the series.

Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami in front of Evangelion Unit-01 in Neon Genesis Evangelion

Things would end here for most anime series, but Evangelion is anything but that. Hideaki Anno established Studio Khara in 2006 to retell the story of Neon Genesis Evangelion through four films referred to as the Rebuild of Evangelion. This retelling spanned 14 years in total, with the final film releasing in March 2021.

Beyond anime, Evangelion has expanded into numerous areas around Japan, including pachinko machines, exclusive merchandise lines, and much more. If you’re aiming to immerse yourself in Eva for the first time, the anime is the best place to do so.

Which Evangelion Anime Should You Watch First?

Evangelion Unit-01 in Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone

While there are three different places you can realistically start from, the only anime you should consider starting with is the original: Neon Genesis Evangelion. This was the first entry in the series, and as such, it’s the best place to start overall. The 26-episode anime serves as the basis for both Evangelion: Death(True)² and a large portion of the Rebuild, and is a necessary watch before The End of Evangelion.

Where to Watch the Evangelion Anime

The original Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, the Evangelion: Death(True)² recap film, and The End of Evangelion are all available on Netflix to watch in the United States. The Rebuild of Evangelion, however, is streaming on Amazon Prime.

If you’re someone who enjoys purchasing anime on Blu-ray, the Crunchyroll Store has the original series and films, plus the Rebuild available for purchase. Distributor GKIDS is currently rereleasing the first two films in the Rebuild series, so those are available for pre-order right now.

The Best Evangelion Series Watch Order

Asuka Langely Soryu in Evangelion 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion

As outlined, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the best entry point for Eva. The 26-episode anime marked a bold and impactful take on the prominent mecha genre, exploring deep themes of depression, individuality, religion, and even the concept of evolution.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most influential anime ever created. Famously, the anime faced huge production issues that led to Anno and the staff behind the series abandoning some aspects of the narrative to ensure episodes came out on time.

NOTE: Before watching The End of Evangelion, you have the option of watching the Evangelion: Death(True)². This film recapped the first 24 episodes of the anime series and includes the first 30 minutes of The End of Evangelion. In Japan, this film was referred to as Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth. The recap, which included new drawings, was referred to as Evangelion:Death, while the new ending content was Evangelion:Rebirth.

Due to production issues, the new ending that eventually became the first third of The End of Evangelion was largely retooled and reworked for that film, resulting in some differences. While you can watch Evangelion: Death(True)², this isn’t a required watch, as it basically serves as a recap with an incomplete ending. Everything this film has to offer is shown in both Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion.

2. The End of Evangelion

The End of Evangelion is the ultimate conclusion that wraps up the original TV anime in a new way. Originally released in Japan in 1997, this film replaces the last two episodes of the anime with entirely new material that reimagines the climax of the series in a new way. The cinematic approach to film allowed for bigger fights, bolder ideas, and a larger impact to the viewer. To this day, The End of Evangelion is highly revered as one of the best anime films ever created.

3. Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone marked the beginning of a new project, the Rebuild of Evangelion. This first film is quite faithful to the original series, bringing better animation and a more streamlined narrative to offer new viewers a chance to enter the world of Evangelion for the first time. Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone specifically follows the events of the first six episodes of the series.

4. Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance

The Third Impact looms, and it’s up to Shinji and the others to stop it. The second film in the Rebuild of Evangelion was much bolder than the first, bringing signficant changes across the board compared to the original series. New 3DCG technology previously not available was also implemented in this film. One major change was the introduction of Mari Illustrious Makinami, who while only appearing briefly in this film, would play a key role in the latter two Rebuild projects.

5. Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo

Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo is the beginning of a completely new ending for Evangelion, offering a narrative that is almost entirely detached from the original series. The beginning of the film is set a whole 14 years after the end of Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance, and there are numerous new characters and fights that occur throughout. While the first two Rebuild films set the stage, Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo is where this project began to stand as a complete reimagining.

6. Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time

Finally, Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time acts as the ultimate conclusion to the Rebuild of Evangelion. It may have taken 9 years to release, but the wait was more than worth it. The film sits at 154 minutes, acting as one of the longest animated films ever produced. Thrice Upon a Time puts a fitting bow on the franchise as a whole, featuring incredible fights, satisfying character progression, and a hopeful message that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.

The Future of Evangelion

With the Rebuild of Evangelion complete, it’s unlikely that Hideaki Anno will create any further entries in the series. The release of Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time was promoted with the slogan “Bye-bye, all of Evangelion” on posters, indicating that this is the end for the franchise. Instead, the future of Evangelion will likely consist of more collaborations, merchandise, and releases of the existing anime. As such, there’s no reason to wait around to watch the anime for the first time; get started and experience one of the industry’s best!

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

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